Nowon-gu Distributes 'Restaurant Etiquette Signage and Tray Mats' to Prevent COVID-19 Spread

Higher COVID-19 Infection Rates During Meals Lead to Distribution of 3,953 Restaurants... District Office Operates Temporary Screening Clinic at New Building Parking Lot, Conducting an Average of 480 Tests Daily

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is distributing dining etiquette signboards and tray mats to prevent further spread of COVID-19 infections in the metropolitan area amid the third wave of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

According to an analysis of the infection routes of 139 confirmed cases in the district in December, excluding 30 cases with unknown infection routes, the highest infections were from family transmission (54 cases) and contact with confirmed cases from other districts (25 cases).

Infections from contact with confirmed cases from other districts mostly occurred in restaurants, and these infected individuals subsequently caused family transmissions.

To prevent such primary infections in restaurants, the district is producing 2 million tray mats and 80,000 signboards containing dining etiquette guidelines, such as eating silently while unavoidably removing masks to consume food, and distributing them to 3,953 restaurants in the area.

The district expects that these signboards will help restaurant customers to be cautious by themselves upon seeing the signs, as well as assist business owners and other customers in controlling those who do not comply with quarantine rules.

Meanwhile, from the 15th, the district has set up a temporary screening clinic in the new district office parking lot, allowing any resident to receive anonymous free testing.

As of the 19th, a total of 2,421 tests have been conducted, averaging about 480 tests per day.

The temporary screening clinic operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends, until the 3rd of next month. Due to high public interest, additional operation of the temporary screening clinic is actively being considered.

On the 10th and 11th, the district conducted preemptive testing for 166 people at 26 bathhouse businesses.

Additionally, preemptive testing has been conducted for workers at 62 vulnerable facilities related to nursing homes, and the testing cycle has been shortened from two weeks to one week.

Furthermore, the district has strengthened day and night inspections of key management facilities such as street vendors, entertainment establishments, restaurants, and beauty salons. Since the 7th, specialized intensive disinfection has been carried out on popular walking trails and riverside areas. On the 20th, disinfection rules for non-face-to-face worship were also inspected at 200 religious facilities.

Moreover, district office and community center staff undergo temperature checks three times a day, with frequent office ventilation and mask-wearing compliance inspections. To reduce workplace density, telecommuting has been expanded.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “We ask everyone to strictly observe refraining from conversation and maintaining distancing during meals,” and added, “We will do our best to prevent the local spread of COVID-19 through expanding quarantine personnel and conducting preemptive testing.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.